Ladera mom completes Boston Marathon

April 24, 2014

Updated 10:46 a.m.

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Mission Viejo resident Ronnetta Johnson, director of the Community Service Program's Victim Assistance Program, left, is pictured with Rancho Santa Margarita resident Tonya Whiteside, CEO and presenter for The Whiteside Group in Rancho Santa Margarita, at the CSP's 10th annual Victims' Rights Conference.
COURTESY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM
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COURTESY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM

The winning foursome from South Orange County Cardiology Group at Saddleback Memorialâ€™s sixth annual Corporate Golf Classic includes, from left, Drs. Daniel Lamont, Mike Gault, Robert Masters and Ron Gim.
COURTESY OF THE SADDLEBACK MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
, COURTESY OF THE SADDLEBACK MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

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Serra Catholic Schoolâ€™s Junior High Academic Decathlon Team won the state championship title. The group earned first place in Logic and fourth place in the Super Quiz.
COURTESY OF CINDY KENNEDY
, COURTESY OF CINDY KENNEDY

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Venita Siegel, who underwent surgery in mid-February after being diagnosed with breast cancer, ran the Boston Marathon in 4 hours 6 minutes on April 21.
COURTESY OF THE SIEGEL FAMILY
, COURTESY OF THE SIEGEL FAMILY

Mission Viejo resident Ronnetta Johnson, director of the Community Service Program's Victim Assistance Program, left, is pictured with Rancho Santa Margarita resident Tonya Whiteside, CEO and presenter for The Whiteside Group in Rancho Santa Margarita, at the CSP's 10th annual Victims' Rights Conference.
COURTESY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM
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COURTESY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM

Ladera Ranch mother Venita Siegel, 43, finished the Boston Marathon in 4 hours and 6 minutes Monday. Of the seven marathons she has run, this was her fourth-fastest finish, she said. In spite of having tired feet, under the circumstances, Siegel said she is doing well.

After a routine mammogram in January, Siegel was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy in mid-February. She ran the race with chest expanders in preparation for her reconstructive surgery.

ACADEMIC TEAM WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Serra Catholic School’s Junior High Academic Decathlon Team won the state championship, hosted by the Diocese of San Bernardino. The Rancho Santa Margarita team competed against nine other teams who represented their diocese in California and Denver.

The team, made up of seventh- and eighth-grade students, earned first place in Logic and fourth place in the Super Quiz.

RELAY TO HELP FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

The Ladera Ranch Relay for Life will hold a rally 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Bridgepark Plaza courtyard, 27702 Crown Valley Parkway in Ladera Ranch. During the charity event, participants can register for the Aug. 2 race, decorate luminaria bags and shop local vendors who will donate some proceeds to the cause.

So far, 17 teams have raised more than $2,500 for the relay, which will be held in Cox Sports Park. For race registration, go to relayforlife.org.

TREES DONATED TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Joining forces, Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corp. and O’Connell Landscaping donated and planted two large pepper trees and replaced a mulberry tree at Oso Grande Elementary School in Ladera Ranch. The school will honor them during flag ceremony today.

BLOOD MARROW DRIVE PLANNED

Sign up to be a blood marrow donor for people diagnosed with life-threatening blood cancers, like leukemia and lymphoma, during an April 27 event at Crossfit Ethos, 27742 Antonio Parkway in Ladera Ranch.

Local volunteers were honored for their work in advocating for victims’ rights at the Community Service Program’s 10th annual Victims’ Rights Conference.

Among the honorees was Rancho Santa Margarita resident Tonya Whiteside, CEO of the Whiteside Group in Rancho Santa Margarita, who was recognized with the Valor Award.

Whiteside witnessed a tragic crime and received services from the Community Service Program’s Victim Assistance Program. She shared her experiences about her struggles and recovery during the event and has written several books, including “Rebuilding Life after Trauma,” which encourages other survivors. She has also received a certificate of completion for Domestic Violence Advocate Training.

The event brought more than 250 law enforcement officers, therapists, nonprofit organization representives, service providers and victims together for a day of honoring heroes and training.

CADETTE TROOP EARNS SILVER AWARD

Portola Hills Cadette Girl Scout Troop 498 has earned a Silver Award by preparing and providing Boys Town California in Trabuco Canyon with emergency bags for the boys’ families.

To earn money for the project, the Girl Scouts collected goods from the community and held a garage sale, which raised more than $400. They also held an emergency supply drive at Walmart and received donations.

Troop members, who spent more than 40 hours on the project, include Rachel Chamberlin, Rachel Copelan, Emily Smetanka and Kaitlyn Quinn, and is led by Merrilee Copelan and Lisa Quinn.

CHURCH GROUP TO BEAUTIFY PARK

About 500 members from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the Mission Viejo stake will join their neighbors at Coronado Park at Avery Parkway and Las Ondas Drive in Mission Viejo for the Statewide Mormon Helping Hands Day and Mission Viejo’s annual Earth Day celebration Saturday.

Mormons from Mission Viejo, Lake Forest and Ladera Ranch will clean up debris and plant trees and shrubs along Avery Parkway from Marguerite Parkway back to the Arroyo Trabuco golf course.

The winning foursome from South Orange County Cardiology Group included physicians Mike Gault, Ron Gim, Daniel Lamont and Robert Masters. Second place went to Bob Baker, Simon Reeves, Jim Smith and Len Wahlert of TideRock Financial. The South County Orthopedic Specialists’ foursome of Charlie Anderson and Larry Gersten, Matt Hanson and Lonnie Moskow was third.

Other winners: Mike Wilcock of Thompson Engineering, who won the putting contest. Simon Reeves of TideRock Financial won the closest-to-the-pin contest for the men and Lorie Lopez of CARE Ambulance won for the women. Alex Kohara of Beacon Point won the longest drive and the foursome with Robert Grove of Farmers & Merchants Banks won for straightest drive.

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